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Medical Author:

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Dr. Dahl's educational background includes a BA with Honors and Distinction from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, and an MD from Cornell University, where he was selected for Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. He had an internal medical internship at the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• What is blepharitis?
• What causes blepharitis?
• What are the symptoms and signs of blepharitis?
• How is blepharitis diagnosed?
• What are complications of blepharitis?
• What is the treatment for blepharitis?
• What is the prognosis for blepharitis?
• Blepharitis At A Glance
• Find a local Eye Doctor in your town
• Blepharitis Index

Blepharitis can be usually diagnosed by a physician based on the history as given by the patient and physical examination.

The history should include a discussion of symptoms that the patient is experiencing and the presence of any general health problems that may be contributing to the eye problem.

The physical examination should place special emphasis on evaluation of the eyelids, lid margins, base of the lashes, oil gland openings, tear quantity and quality, and front surface of the eyeball using a slit lamp, which allows a magnified view with sufficient illumination.

A differentiation among the various types of blepharitis can often be made based on this examination, and appropriate treatment can be suggested.

Occasionally, cultures are taken -- swabbing the discharge and sending this to the laboratory to look for specific organisms. In some cases, an allergy evaluation may be required.

It is unusual for blepharitis to cause serious problems. However, blepharitis can lead to a number of other conditions.

• Sty: A sty or hordeolum is a bacterial infection in one of the oil glands whose opening is clogged. The result is a painful lump on the edge or inside of your eyelid.



• Chalazion: A chalazion or conjunctival granuloma occurs when a blockage in one of the oil glands causes that gland to become enlarged and scarred.



• Chronic pink eye: Blepharitis can lead to recurrent bouts of pink eye (conjunctivitis).



• Ulceration of the cornea: Constant irritation from inflamed eyelids or misdirected eyelashes may cause a sore (ulcer) to develop on your cornea.

Blepharitis does not affect vision generally, although a poor tear film may intermittently blur vision, causing varying amounts of fluctuating vision during the day. Call your ophthalmologist if you develop significant changes in vision since this symptom is not due to the blepharitis.

Call your ophthalmologist if you develop significant pain in either or both eyes, since this symptom is not due to the blepharitis.

Call your ophthalmologist if symptoms become worse or last for longer than two weeks.

Call your ophthalmologist if you develop a sore on the eyelid that persists or increases in size, especially if it is red, bleeding, and not healing.